What Role CSP Will Play in Scaling Up Solar in MENA – Overview of DEWAs Phase 4 700MW CSP Project and What the Future of CSP May Look Like for the Region

In an engaging, informative and interactive one-on-one interview, this session will see Paddy Padmanathan speak on ACWA Power’s success in the CSP market, analysis of Phase 4 of DEWA’s 700MW CSP Project for Dubai’s Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park and lessons learned. Paddy will share his insights on scaling up CSP in the MENA region and the role of storing energy at utility scale efficiently.

Countries came together in 2015 and agreed to strengthen global efforts to avoid dangerous climate change. The Paris Agreement is based on nationally-determined pledges that countries regularly update with an eye on ultimately reaching a collective level of ‘ambition’ that keeps the global temperature rise well below 2°C. The year 2018 be the first major test of this ‘ambition mechanism’ as countries under the UN take stock of efforts so far. Renewable energy plays a significant role in countries’ pledges to the Paris Agreement and it can deliver a significant share of necessary emissions reductions. This presentation explores a number of related questions: What role does renewable energy play in global climate action? How do countries in the MENA region envisage the role of renewable energy in their domestic climate policies? Should the region aim for higher ambition in renewable energy targets, including in the next round of nationally determined contributions to the Paris Agreement?

This session looks at establishing a bankable offtake framework for renewable projects at government level, with clear risk allocation to tap long term project finance (Dubai/DEWA is a case where this has been successfully done).
Defining a clear road-map for renewable energy programs which incorporate long term MW goals with shorter-term strategies for project implementation. Developing frameworks that empower companies to commit resources to the region.
Setting distinct targets for both utility scale and decentralized generation, providing visibility to the market on commitment to both the sectors.
Decentralized Generation - supporting the financing eco-system to help scale up deployment.

Networking Break

What is sustainable infrastructure? How can financing sustainable infrastructure empower countries to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)? What are the challenges to financing the level of sustainable infrastructure investment consistent with climate change and the SDGs? How do we overcome these barriers?
Identifying the right mix of debt and equity infrastructure to match the needs throughout the project life cycle.
What role will Public Private Partnerships play in financing infrastructure in middle-income countries?
How do we define the sustainable infrastructure gap and address the private sector’s role in closing this gap? What are the benefits of increased investment from institutional and corporate investors and what incentives are needed to scale up their participation?
Understanding the link between institutional and corporate investment and how vehicles such as yield cost and master limited partnerships can be used to funnel investments into sustainable infrastructure projects.

Are we at a decisive point in the switch to clean energy vehicles? This panel will look at the status of change in the
world, technology perspectives, and perceptions in the UAE and GCC
How to accelerate the change to a new paradigm with clean energy vehicles: do governments and public entities
have a leading role to play? as buyers of fleet, as regulators, in setting up global energy policy, in putting in place
incentives. How to change the mindset of the consumer
How to integrate EV in the overall energy system and how to guarantee the clean source of the energy powering
the vehicles?

Panelists will discuss the Kingdom’s current initatives and future plans for its clean energy program including smart
solutions for sustainability energy such as smart grids and smart meters, solar energy and wind projects and energy
storage.

Focus on MENA Projects – Understanding The Investment Opportunities and Navigating the Challenges

Overview of the outcome of Etihad ESCOs tender for the development, engineering, procurement and construction for 60 MWp solar PV systems across Dubai. Can distributed solar be cheaper than utility scale?

This session will review the status of utility scale wind, PV and CSP developments, distributed generation and hybrids, and explore future opportunities in Egypt, Oman, Jordan and Kuwait. Panelists will share their insights on the latest in distributed rooftop solar programs, off-grid developments, status of regulatory frameworks for grid connection of renewables, technical regulations and economic regulations such as net metering, FiTs and Wheeling.

This session will review the status of utility scale wind, PV and CSP developments, distributed generation and hybrids, and explore future opportunities in Egypt, Oman, Jordan and Kuwait. Panelists will share their insights on the latest in distributed rooftop solar programs, off-grid developments, status of regulatory frameworks for grid connection of renewables, technical regulations and economic regulations such as net metering, FiTs and Wheeling.

Drinks Reception in Networking Foyer

About the CEBC

Registered as a Not for Profit Company in Masdar City in Abu Dhabi, the Clean Energy Business Council is the pre-eminent organization representing the private sector involved in the clean energy sector across the MENA region (read more)